Engine oil pan

ABSTRACT

An oil pan assembly for the combustion engine in a motor vehicle in which an oil pan of suitable configuration is provided with baffles therein to provide an upper oil collecting chamber and a lower sump chamber in communication with each other through float valve controlled drain openings, the float valves being responsive to the relative oil level in the sump chamber.

United States Patent I 1 1 l l 1 Inventor John C. Rau [56] ReferencesCited A I N 322 23 UNITED STATES PATENTS P 1,989,816 2/1935 Meyer 184/68Filed Dec. 19, 1969 P 2,022,898 12/1935 Nlven 184/6 B 2 208 912 7/1940S1mpson 184/103 A :35 2,440I815 5 1948- Wharam et al 184/6 B 2,938,6015/1960 Brafford 184/106 X Primary Examiner-Manuel A. AntonakasAttorneys-Jean L. Carpenter and Arthur N. Krein ENGINE OlL PAN ABSTRACT:An 011 pan assembly for the combust1on engine 6 clams 3 Drawing 7 in amotor vehicle in which an oil pan of suitable configuration US. Cl 184/6B, is provided with bafiles therein to provide an upper oil collect-184/103 ing chamber and a lower sump chamber in communication Int.Cl..-. ..F0lrn l l/06 with each other through float valve controlleddrain openings, Field of Search 184/6, 6 B, the float valves beingresponsive to the relative oil level in the 103, 103 A, 106 sumpchamber.

If F .4? if #5 1 w j 1s ENGINE OIL PAN This invention relates to an oilpan and specifically to an oil pan for an internal combustion engine foruse in a motor vehicle. i

It has long been a problem in the engine of motor vehicles to maintain asatisfactory oil level within the oil pan of the engine under allvehicle operating conditions. When the vehicle is stationary, the oilseeks the lowest level within the oil pan which is normally the oil sumpportion of the oil pan, the oil pump intake usually being located inthis sump portion. When the vehicle is being driven upgrade, the oiltends to shift to the rear of the oil pan whereas when the vehicle isbeing driven downgrade, the oil tends to shift to the front of thereservoir. Under certain conditions, this movement of the oil within theoil pan is sufficient so as to uncover the pump intake to permit air toenter into the oil pump in lieu of oil. Similar conditions are alsoobtained during sudden accelerations and decelerations and during highspeed vehicle maneuvering.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to improve an engineoil pan structure whereby it is adapted to retain a supply of oil toprovide adequate and continuous engine oil lubrication during high speedvehicle maneuvering or off-road operating conditions.

Another object of this invention is to improve an engine oil pan toprovide a partially closeable oil sump portion in the oil pan which willretain an oil supply therein under conditions of severe vehicleinclination or strong centrifugal forces.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by means of an oilpan construction having a lower sump portion and upper and lowerconnecting baffles within the oil pan, both of the baffles sealingagainst the sides of the oil pan. The upper baffle closely surrounds thecrankshaft of the engine and includes valve openings connecting with thespace below a flat lower baffle. Float valves in the openings arearranged to close the openings to prevent inclination or side forces onthe oil pan from partially emptying the sump so as to starve the oilpump.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objectsand further features thereof, reference is had to the following detaileddescription of the invention to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an internal combustion engine having an oil panconstructed in accordance with the invention, pans of the oil pan beingbroken away to show details of its structure;

FIG. 2 is a partial view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the oil pan inthe position it would be in as a vehicle is driven downgrade; and,

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an internal combustionenginehaving a cylinder block 11 with a conventional crlnkcase l2 suitablyjournaled therein. Secured to the bottom of the cylinder block is an oilpan assembly in accordance with the invention, generally designated 14of suitable configuration to suitably enclose the underside of thecylinder block. The oil pan assembly 14 is provided with a depressedlower portion to form an oil sump chamber 16 in which is mounted aconventional oil inlet 17 connected by conduit 18 to an oil pump, notshown, to supply oil for lubricating the parts of the engine whichnormally require lubrication.

The oil pan assembly 14 of the invention can be constructed in a numberof ways to provide an upper oil collecting chamber I5 and the lower oilsump chamber 16 in communication with each other through float valvecontrolled drain openings to be described hereinafter, the float valvesbeing positioned to be responsive to the relative oil level in the loweroil sump chamber.

For ease in manufacturing, the oil pan assembly 14, in the preferredembodiment shown, includes a unitary oil pan 19 provided with upper andlower baffles, 24 and 40, respectively to form the upper oil collectingchamber open at the top to permit oil from the engine to drain into thischamber, and the lower oil sump chamber 16.

As shown in the figures, the unitary oil pan 19 has sidewalls 20, frontand rear end walls 21 and 22, respectively, and a bottom panel 23defining a reservoir for oil.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the upper baffle 24 is channel-shapedin section and extends'the'length of the oil pan [9 beneath and to thesides of the engine crankshaft 12. The upper baffle 24 is preferablysuitably sealed against the sides of the oil pan 19 as, for example, inthe embodiment illustrated, the upper baffle 24 is provided withlongitudinal flange portions 26 which extend over the side flangeportions 28 of the oil pan 19, both flanges being suitably apertured toreceive the bolts 30 by which this structure is secured to the bottomportion of the cylinder block 11. The lateral front and rear end flangeportions 32 and 34, respectively, of the upper baffle 24 can bepositioned to merely abut against the lateral front and rear end walls21 and 22, respectively, of the oil pan 19, as shown, or if desired,they can be welded to these surfaces. The upper baffle 24 is thuspositioned to form a drain trough in which oil dropping from thecrankshaft, for example, will flow by gravity down the inner surface ofthis baffle and drain into the circular depressed drain spouts 36 formedin the bottom of the trough portion of the upper baffle 24. It ispreferred that at least two drain spouts 36 be provided, located at thefront and rear, left and right ends as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, of theupper baffle.

Positioned beneath the upper baffle 24 is the lower baffle 40 hereinshown as a flat plate provided with drain openings 42 in alignment withthe drain spouts 36 of the upper baffle 24. The lower baffle is suitablypositioned within the oil pan 19 so that its peripheral edges are insubstantial sealing engagement with the sides of the oil pan and withthe upper bafile 24. This can be accomplished by either welding thelower baffle to the depressed drain spout of the upper baffle with theside flanges 44, front flange 46 and rear flange 48 of the lower bafflemerely abutting against the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 20, frontwall 21, and rear wall 22 of the oil pan or by welding these peripheralupturned flanges of the lower baffle to these walls of the oil pan.

An open bearing member 50 is suitably secured within each of the drainspouts 36 and each is provided with a bearing aperture 52 therein toslideably receive the valve stem 54 of a float valve 56 adapted to sealthe apertures in the lower baffle. As shown in FIG. I, the float valve54, under normal level road operating conditions, will fall by gravityinto contact with the oil 58 in the sump chamber 16 or its downwardmovement will be restrained by stops 60 secured to the valve stems 54,so that under normal conditions, oil from the upper baffle 24 can draindown through either one of the drain spouts 36 and flow into the sumpchamber 16. However, during violent maneuvering of the vehicle or whilethe vehicle is going up or down a steep incline, the oil level willshift in the sump to a position, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, whichillustrates the oil level during vehicle motion downgrade, at which timethe buoyancy of the front float valve 56, as shown in FIG. 2, will causethe float valve to rise into sealing engagement with the aperture 42 inthe front lower baffle to thereby prevent the oil 58 from leaving thesump chamber 16 to flow into the upper or collecting chamber 15 andthereby reducing the oil level sufficiently in the sump chamber 16 touncover the oil inlet 17. In the meantime, oil can still drain from therearward portion of the upper baffle through the rear drain spout 36,right-hand spout of FIG. 2, into the sump chamber 16 to replenish thesupply of oil therein. When the oil level in the sump chamber drops awayfrom the lower baffle, the float valve 54 will again drop and allow anyoil that has accumulated in the drain spout 36 to flow into the sumpchamber 16. Of course, when the oil pan is tilted in the oppositedirection, the rear or right-hand float valve, as seen in FIG. 2, willmove upward to close the rear drain opening while allowing the forwarddrain spout to remain unblocked by its respective float valve 56. It isapparent that the oil level, as influenced by vehicle maneuvering,

will effect the opening or closing of the float valves 56 in a manner asdescribed above in regard to FIG. 2.

With the oil pump, not shown, mounted within the cylinder block 11, theconduit 18 from oil inlet can extend through suitable apertures, notshown, in the upper and lower baffles 24 and 40 to the oil pump. Ofcourse, if desired, the conduit 18 can also be extended through asuitable aperture, not shown, in a sidewall of the oil pan when, forexample, the oil pump, not shown, is mounted externally of the cylinderblock 1 1.

With the arrangement described above, there is provided a structurewhich will automatically retain oil in the sump portion of the oil panat a sufiicient level during all vehicle maneuvering to completely coverthe inlet to the oil pump of the engine.

What I claim is:

I. An oil pan assembly for an internal combustion engine including wallmeans providing an upper collecting chamber and a lower sump chamberinterconnected to each other by at least a first drain opening and aspaced apart second drain opening, valve support means secured withineach of said first drain opening and said second drain opening, andfloat valve means in said lower sump chamber supported by said valvesupport means for movement relative thereto whereby each of said floatvalve means is independently movable from a first position blocking thesaid drain opening with which it is associated to a second position inwhich said drain opening with which it is associated is unblocked bysaid float valve means.

2. An oil pan assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wall meansincludes an oil pan having sidewalls, end walls and a bottom paneldefining a sump for oil, an upper channelshaped baffle in sealingengagement with said sidewalls and said end walls of said oil pan toprovide said upper collecting chamber, said upper baffle being providedwith spaced apart drain spouts in the bottom portion thereof, and alower baffle having spaced apart drain apertures therein, said lowerbaffle being positioned below said upper baffle in sealing engagementwith said sidewalls and said end walls of said oil pan to form with saidbottom panel said lower sump chamber with said apertures therein inalignment with said drain spouts of said upper baffle to form with saiddrain spouts said first and said second drain openings.

3. An oil pan assembly for an internal combustion engine, said oil panassembly including an oil pan having sidewalls, end walls and a bottompanel defining a reservoir for oil, baffle means positioned within saidoil pan and in sealing engagement with said sidewalls and said end wallsof said oilpan to provide therewith an upper collecting chamber and alower sump chamber, said baffle means including spaced apartlongitudinal drain openings to provide communication between said uppercollecting chamber and said lower sump chamber, valve support meanssecured within each of said drain openings, and float valve meansextending into said lower sump chamber and supported by said valvesupport means for movement with respect to said drain openings from afirst position blocking said drain openings to a second position inwhich said drain openings are unblocked by said float valves.

4. An oil pan assembly for an internal combustion engine according toclaim 3 wherein said baffle means includes an upper channel-shapedbaffle to form a drain trough, said upper baffle having longitudinallyspaced apart drain spouts in the bottom portion thereof, and a lowerbaffle having spaced apart drain apertures therein, said lower bafflebeing secured to the underside of said upper baffle with said drainapertures of said lower baffle in alignment with said drain spouts ofsaid upper baffle to form said longitudinal drain openings, said lowerbaffle forming, with said bottom panel and portions of said sidewallsand said end walls, said lower sump chamber.

5. In combination with an oil pan for an internal combustion engine inwhich the oil pan includes sidewalls, end walls and a bottom panel; anupper channel-shaped baffle in sealing engagement with said sidewallsand said end walls of said oil pan to provide an upper collectingchamber, said up er baffle being provided with spaced apart drain spoutsin t e bottom portion thereof, a lower baffle having spaced apart drainapertures therein, said lower baffle being positioned beneath said upperbaflle in scaling engagement with said sidewalls and said end walls ofsaid oil pan to form with said bottom panel a lower sump chamber, saidapertures in said lower baffle being positioned in alignment with saiddrain spouts of said upper baffle, valve means including float meanspositioned to control the flow of oil through said drain apertures asdetermined by the level of oil in said lower sump chamber.

6. An oil control device for use in the oil pan of an internalcombustion engine of a motor vehicle in which the oil pan has sidewalls,end walls and a bottom panel, said oil retention device including anupper channel-shaped baffle adapted to be positioned in sealingengagement with the sidewalls and the end walls of the oil pan toprovide an upper oil collecting chamber, said upper baffle beingprovided with spaced apart longitudinal drain spouts in the bottomportion thereof, a lower baffle having spaced apart drain aperturestherein, said lower baffle being secured to the underside of said upperbaffle with said drain apertures therein in alignment with said drainspouts of said upper baffle, said lower baffle being adapted to engagethe sidewalls and the end walls of the oil pan to form with the bottompanel thereof a lower sump chamber, valve support means secured withineach of said drain spouts, and float valve means movably supported bysaid valve support means to extend into said lower sump chamber wherebysaid float valve means are adapted to open and close said drainapertures in response to the level of liquid in said lower sump chamber.

1. An oil pan assembly for an internal combustion engine including wallmeans providing an upper collecting chamber and a lower sump chamberinterconnected to each other by at least a first drain opening and aspaced apart second drain opening, valve support means secured withineach of said first drain opening and said second drain opening, andfloat valve means in said lower sump chamber supported by said valvesupport means for movement relative thereto whereby each of said floatvalve means is independently movable from a first position blocking thesaid drain opening with which it is associated to a second position inwhich said drain opening with which it is associated is unblocked bysaid float valve means.
 2. An oil pan assembly according to claim 1wherein said wall means includes an oil pan having sidewalls, end wallsand a bottom panel defining a sump for oil, an upper channel-shapedbaffle in sealing engagement with said sidewalls and said end walls ofsaid oil pan to provide said upper collecting chamber, said upper bafflebeing provided with spaced apart drain spouts in the bottom portionthereof, and a lower baffle having spaced apart drain apertures therein,said lower baffle being positioned below said upper baffle in sealingengagement with said sidewalls and said end walls of said oil pan toform with said bottom panel said lower sump chamber with said aperturestherein in alignment with said drain spouts of said upper baffle to formwith said drain spouts said first and said second drain openings.
 3. Anoil pan assembly for an internal combustion engine, said oil panassembly including an oil pan having sidewalls, end walls and a bottompanel defining a reservoir for oil, baffle means positioned within saidoil pan and in sealing engagement with said sidewalls and said end wallsof said oil pan to provide thErewith an upper collecting chamber and alower sump chamber, said baffle means including spaced apartlongitudinal drain openings to provide communication between said uppercollecting chamber and said lower sump chamber, valve support meanssecured within each of said drain openings, and float valve meansextending into said lower sump chamber and supported by said valvesupport means for movement with respect to said drain openings from afirst position blocking said drain openings to a second position inwhich said drain openings are unblocked by said float valves.
 4. An oilpan assembly for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3wherein said baffle means includes an upper channel-shaped baffle toform a drain trough, said upper baffle having longitudinally spacedapart drain spouts in the bottom portion thereof, and a lower bafflehaving spaced apart drain apertures therein, said lower baffle beingsecured to the underside of said upper baffle with said drain aperturesof said lower baffle in alignment with said drain spouts of said upperbaffle to form said longitudinal drain openings, said lower baffleforming, with said bottom panel and portions of said sidewalls and saidend walls, said lower sump chamber.
 5. In combination with an oil panfor an internal combustion engine in which the oil pan includessidewalls, end walls and a bottom panel; an upper channel-shaped bafflein sealing engagement with said sidewalls and said end walls of said oilpan to provide an upper collecting chamber, said upper baffle beingprovided with spaced apart drain spouts in the bottom portion thereof, alower baffle having spaced apart drain apertures therein, said lowerbaffle being positioned beneath said upper baffle in sealing engagementwith said sidewalls and said end walls of said oil pan to form with saidbottom panel a lower sump chamber, said apertures in said lower bafflebeing positioned in alignment with said drain spouts of said upperbaffle, valve means including float means positioned to control the flowof oil through said drain apertures as determined by the level of oil insaid lower sump chamber.
 6. An oil control device for use in the oil panof an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle in which the oil panhas sidewalls, end walls and a bottom panel, said oil retention deviceincluding an upper channel-shaped baffle adapted to be positioned insealing engagement with the sidewalls and the end walls of the oil panto provide an upper oil collecting chamber, said upper baffle beingprovided with spaced apart longitudinal drain spouts in the bottomportion thereof, a lower baffle having spaced apart drain aperturestherein, said lower baffle being secured to the underside of said upperbaffle with said drain apertures therein in alignment with said drainspouts of said upper baffle, said lower baffle being adapted to engagethe sidewalls and the end walls of the oil pan to form with the bottompanel thereof a lower sump chamber, valve support means secured withineach of said drain spouts, and float valve means movably supported bysaid valve support means to extend into said lower sump chamber wherebysaid float valve means are adapted to open and close said drainapertures in response to the level of liquid in said lower sump chamber.